Discharge valve for liquid containers



W. 19, 1935. c. s. PHILLIPS 2,021,807

DISCHARGE VALVE FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 1, 1934 Patented Nov.19, 1935 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISCHARGE VALVE FOR LIQUIDCONTAINERS Clive Selsey Phillips, London, England, assignor to PhillipsTelescopic Taps Limited, London,

England 11 Claims.

This invention is for improvements in and relating to discharge valvesfor containers, more particularly for drums and barrels.

The invention has for its object to provide a discharge valve forliquids and granular solids which is of an extremely simpleconstruction, gives a rapid and clean cut-01f when closing and which issufiiciently economical to manufacture 7 that it does not materiallyincrease the price of the container, such as a metal drum, and which iscomparatively free from liability to damage in transit of the drum orthe like and may thus be a permanent fixture thereon.

According to the invention there is provided a discharge valve for acontainer which comprises a shutter valve so constructed and adapted tobe applied to the container that the said valve is substantially flushwith or located within the boundaries of the container.

205 In the case of a metal oil drum or thelike, the valve is preferablysecured to the bottom of the drum so as to discharge the liquidtransversely to the shutter of the valve, thereby ensuring aquick-cut-off and the avoidance of dribbling of the liquid over thecontainer wall; in this position the valve is further protected fromdamage by the chimb of the container projecting below the bottom wallthereof.

The invention includes within its scope, containers provided withdischarge valves as specified in the two preceding paragraphs and thefollowing description.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference isdirected to the accompanying drawing, in which:---

Figure 1 shows an underside view of a discharge valve constructed inaccordance with the invention, the valve being shown closed;

Figure 2 is a side view of the valve shown in 401' Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the valve open;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 shows more clearly a detail of the construction illustrated inFigure 3;

Figure '7 shows an underside View of a modified construction ofdischarge valve constructed in accordance with the invention, showingthe valve closed;

Figure 8 is a section on the line l'l of Figure 6; and

* Figure 9" is a diagrammatic section through a discharge valve showingthe same combined with a device for preventing the unauthorizedrefilling of a container.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, the valve comprises a main disc I, shown asbeing built up of a plu- 5 rality of discs but which can conveniently bepressed from a single sheet of material; the disc is provided with anupstanding flange 2 turned over as shown at 3. The disc I is providedwith an outlet aperture A and an arcuate slot 5, the 10 outlet aperture4 being countersunk to accommodate an annular washer 9 of fibre, cork orlike substance which is slightly thicker than the countersunk portion.This extra thickness which is very small is shown clearly in the largescale 15 detail view, Figure 6. An outer disc l0 constituting a shutteris concentrically pivoted on the outside of the disc I by means of abolt II and is provided with an outlet aperture l2 and a notch l3.mounted on the bolt H together with an arm I5, one side of which engageswithin two bent over lugs It on the plate I4. One overturned end of thisarm bears on the plate l4 whilst the other overturned end I5a extendsinto the notch I3 25 and slot 5. The ends of the plate l4 bear on thedisc l0 and press the same on to the washer 9 with a force which may beregulated, if desired, by the bolt II. A manipulating handle I! ishinged to the plate I 4 and may be packed with- 30 in the confines ofthe flanged disc I when folded into the position shown in Figures 1 and3, a hole Ila in the handle accommodating the nut of the bolt II; in theposition of the handle shown in Figures 4 and 5 the valve may be openedor 35 closed by rotating the handle ll about the bolt II and so turningthe disc ID from the closed position shown in Figure 1 to the openposition shown in Figure 4. The end l5a of the arm l5 limits themovements of the disc Ill by abutting 40 against the ends of the slot 5.

The flange 2 may be soldered or pressed to the surface of the containeritself, or wheeled on to an upstanding neck l8 (Figure 2) provided on acontainer, which, for example, may be a metal 45 If desired, part of thewall of a metal container 55 A segmental spring plate i4 is also 20 mayserve as the disc I and a depression provided in the said wall toaccommodate the washer 9 around the outlet aperture 4.

In the construction shown in Figures 7 and 8, a flanged ring 29, similarto the flange 2, 3 of Figure 1 is provided, and, a shallow circularhousing 2i is secured thereto in the manner clearly shown in Figure 8,to accommodate the various elements of the valve. An inner disc 22,

provided with an outlet aperture 4 is clamped between the elements ofthe housing and a disc 24 is provided with spring tongues 25 which bearagainst the disc 22 and force the disc 24 against discs 26. Aroundoutlet apertures 21 in the discs 26 a packing ring 28 is provided whichbears against a rotatable shutter disc 29 which is thus pressed againstthe overturned flange 30 of the housing 2|. The disc 29 is provided withan outlet aperture 3| and a folding manipulating handle 32. Theoperation of the valve is the same as that of the preceding examplastops33 being provided on the housing to limit the rotational movements ofthe disc 29 by abutting with the root of the handle 32. Y

When the valves are fitted to a neck such as I8, Figure 9, a partition34 may be provided at the base of the neck having an outlet 35 formedtherein diametrically opposite to the outlet 4 of the discharge valveand controlled by any type of automatic valve 36 which operates topermit liquid to be discharged from the container in the position shown,but operates to close the out let 35 if the container is inverted, andso prevents unauthorized refilling of the container, the valve 36 beinginaccessible through the opening of the discharge valve 4. It isimportant to realize that with the construction of valve forming thesubject matter of the invention, no air vent is necessary to enable thecontents of the container to be withdrawn, because air bubbles throughthe outlet opening 4 automatically as the liquid issues therefrom, it isthus with the arrangement shown in Figure 9, practically impossible forthecontainer (which is filled through the neck before these devices arefitted) to be refilled by unauthorized persons. Alternatively the platecarrying the non-return valve can be formed as part of the dischargevalve itself, whether the latter is fitted direct to a container or intoa neck.

The invention is capable of various modifications from the specificexamples described above; for example, the shutter of the valve may bepivoted eccentrically with respect to a circular housing having innerand outer closing disc portions somewhat similar to the arrangementshown in Figures 7 and 8, but with the discs stationary and the shutterdisposed therebetween and packed with cork or similar discs havingapertures therethrough aligned with the outlet apertures in the innerand outer disc portions of the housing. The cork packing discs may beplaced on one or both sides of the shutter and the latter need not havean outlet aperture therein but may be arranged to be moved clear of theoutlet apertures in the discs and housing when the valve is open. Formanipulating the shutter in this construction, an arm-like extensionthereof can extend through a slot in the peripheral wall of the housing,or a pin on the shutter can extend through an arcuate slot in the outerdisc portion of the housing. Both, shutter and packing might be oftapered'section to secure progressive compression When closing, in lieuof the compression by spring as described.

Any of the constructions of valve may be sealed by a cap such as l9shown in Figure 2 or other sealing means, such as a wire and lead sealmay be provided to prevent unauthorized opening of the valves. The shapeand size of the 5 apertures may, of course, be varied as required. Thewasher 9, and the countersinking necessary to house this, may be omittedwhen dealing with .viscous liquids and granular solids and the handlemight be so arranged to fly back automatical- 10 ly to the closedposition on release, by spring action.

In all constructions one member of the housing of the valve can beformed from the wall of a metal container, and it is to be understoodthat 15 the valve may be placed on any desired wall of a container,either vertical or horizontal or any intermediate angle; for example, inthe latter case a portion of the wall of the drum might be dished ordisplaced at an angle to enable the valve se- 20 cured thereto to lie atan angle to the axis of the drum.

Preferably, however, the valve is secured to the bottom of thecontainer, near the chimb in the case of a drum, as shown in Figure 2.With 25 this arrangement of the valve on the drum it will be readilyappreciated that the drum may be arranged to stand upon a support withthat portion of the bottom of the drum in which the valve is locatedprojecting beyond the forward edge 30 of the said support thus enablinga receptacle to be placed below the valve into which liquid from thedrum may be discharged when the shutter is manipulated to open thedischarge aperture of the valve. 351

The guillotine effect of the shutter on the liquid stream issuingtransversely of the shutter ensures a clean and rapid cut-off of theliquid, whilst the construction of the discharge valve and itsapplication to the drum provides a max- 40 imum amount of protectionagainst damage to the valve during the transport of the drum so that thevalve may be incorporated as a fixture thereon. Moreover, the relativelysmall size and simplicity of the discharge valve ensures that 45* it maybe produced at an extremely economical price.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. A discharge valve comprising a pair of flat discs concentricallyassembled together parallel with one another and rotatable relatively toone another about their common centre, an upstanding flange on one discwithin which the second disc is disposed, a' hole in each disc disposedeccentrically with respect to said common centre and registerable withone another, packing'material between said discs around the hole in theflanged 'disc and carried by said flanged disc, means pressing the discstogether into sealing contact with said packing, and a foldable handleon the second disc adapted when folded to be disposed within theconfines of said flange.

, 2. A discharge valve as claimed in claim 1, in combination with a capsealed to the upstanding flange of the first disc with the handle foldedand sealed within said cap and flange.

V 3. A discharge valve comprising a pair of fiat discs concentricallyassembled together parallel with one another and rotatable relatively toone another about their common centre, an upstanding flange on one discwithin which the second 'disc is disposed, a hole in each disc disposedeccentrically with respect to said common centre Y and registerable withone another, packing mate- 4. In combination, a liquid container, anoutlet neck thereon, a discharge valve as claimed in claim 3, sealed tothe outer end of said neck, a partition extending across said neck at aninner point thereof, an aperture in said partition located at a pointinaccessible from the hole in the flanged disc of the discharge valve,and a nonreturn valve opening outwardly adapted to control said aperturein the partition.

5.. In combination, a liquid container, an outlet neck thereon, adischarge valve as claimed in claim 1 sealed to the outer end of saidneck, a partition extending across said neck at an inner point thereof,an aperture in said partition located at a point diametrically oppositeto the hole in the flanged disc of the discharge valve, and a nonreturnvalve opening outwardly adapted to control said aperture in thepartition.

6. A discharge valve comprising a sheet metal disc provided with anupstanding rim, a hole in said disc disposed eccentrically thereof, asecond disc rotatably mounted concentrically upon the first disc andparallel thereto, a hole in said second disc having the sameeccentricity as the hole in the first disc, a foldable handle, forrotatably moving the second disc relatively to the first, which isarranged when not in use to be folded to an inoperative position whereit is disposed within the boundary formed by the upstanding rim, a stopfor limiting the movement of the second disc when the holes in the discsregister with one another and means adapted to press the two discs intocontact with one another.

7. A discharge valve comprising a sheet metal disc provided with anupstanding rim of uniform height, a hole in said disc disposedeccentrically thereof, a second disc rotatably mounted concentricallyupon the first disc and parallel there to, a hole in said second dischaving the same eccentricity as the hole in the first disc, a handle,for rotatably moving the second disc relatively to the first, which ishingedly secured to said second disc so as to be foldable when not inuse to an inoperative position where it is disposed within the boundaryformed by the upstanding rim, a stop for limiting the movement of thesecond disc when the holes in the discs register with one another, apacking washer disposed between the two discs around the hole in thefirst disc and carried by said disc and means adapted to press the discstowards one another.

8. A discharge valve comprising a pair of flat discs parallel to oneanother and concentrically assembled together so as to be rotatablerelatively to one another about their common centre, a hole in each discdisposed eccentrically with respect to said common centre and adapted toregister with one another in a predetermined relative position of thediscs, means for pressing the discs together and a foldable handle,formed of sheet material hingedly secured to one disc, which in thefolded position is disposed flat on the said disc and in the unfoldedposition extends substantially radially from said disc so as to beconveniently accessible for the purpose of rotatably moving the saiddisc relatively to the other disc.

9. A metal container provided with an outlet opening in one end andadjacent the chimb of the container, an annular depression around saidopening, a packing washer disposed in said depression around saidopening with one face thereof projecting above the surrounding surfaceof said container, a shutter pivotally mounted on said end of thecontainer and operable to be moved to close or open said outlet opening,means pressing said shutter into sealing contact with said projectingface of said Washer when said outlet opening is so closed and a foldablehandle hingedly secured to said shutter for manipulating the same, whichin the folded position is disposed flat on the said shutter within theconfines of the chimb and in the unfolded position extends substantiallyradially from said shutter so as to project beyond the said chimb.

10. A metal container as claimed in claim 9, provided with a stopadapted to limit the movement of the shutter when the outlet is open.

11. In a discharge valve the combination comprising two flat concentricand coaxial discs rotatable relatively to one another about their commonaxis, an upstanding flange on one of the discs within which the otherdisc is dispmed, an aperture in each disc located eccentrically withrespect to the common axis of the discs and registrable with one anotherin one relative position of the discs and non-registrable with oneanother in another relative position of the discs, means pressing thediscs together into sealing contact and a foldable handle on the discdisposed Within the said upstanding flange, which handle is adapted whenfolded to lie within the confines of the flange.

CLIVE SELSEY PHILLIPS.

